What to see in Gabon?

Gabon, or Gaboon, is a mysterious place for most tourists. However, this distant state is not as simple as it may seem at first glance, and its landscape resembles a paradise. Thousands of kilometers of untouched nature make Gabon impressive and breathtaking, especially when viewed from a bird's eye view of its vast territory. The country is located in the west of Central Africa. It borders Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and Congo to the southeast. It is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Gabon covers an area of 267.67 thousand square kilometers and is the 75th largest country in the world. Inland waters make up only 2.5%, the rest is land.

The interior of the country is adorned with plateaus and mountain ranges, while scenic valleys stretch along the Atlantic coast. Climatic conditions vary in different regions of the country. Equatorial climate covers most of the territory, while tropical climate prevails only in the northern part. Here there is constant heat throughout the year, and there is little difference in temperature. A slight wind often blows and the humidity is high. Thunderstorms and short rains are frequent in the afternoon. On the coast, the weather is hot and dry, and temperature variation is more pronounced. The largest and longest river in the country is the Ogowe. Most of the territory is covered with picturesque tropical forests, and open plains are found only near the coast, which smoothly passes into the mountains.

Conventionally, the entire territory of Gabon can be divided into 4 zones, which differ in physical and geographical characteristics.

• The coastal zone is characterized by a low mountainous area known as Mayombe, located in the south. Along the entire coastline, which ranges in width from 30 to 200 kilometers, the surface topography is almost flat. In some places, the coast is intersected by the downstream reaches of several rivers, including the Ogowe River.
• The northern part is famous for the Crystal Mountains, which range in height from 150 to 600 meters. The highest mountains are in the south of the country and are called Shayu. The highest point is Mt. Ibunji, which is 1,580 meters high.
• The Ntem Plateau rises up to 760 meters and is made up of rugged ancient rocks. It is located in the north-east of the country. The meeting of turbulent river waters with the escarpments creates many rapids.
• The Bateque Plateau is a low (about 100 m) and flat terrain composed of clays and limestone. It occupies the eastern part of the country and is a broken plain with many swampy and forested areas.

The capital is one of the most beautiful and developed cities in the whole of Africa. Its appearance gives the atmosphere of a resort and tourist destination. The city is home to one of the most popular attractions, the Museum of Art and Tradition, which is on the list of must-see places in Gabon. Here you can see a complete collection of folk masks of different nationalities.

The Presidential Palace is a complex of buildings. It is so majestic that you can see it from different points of the city. The government spent 800 million dollars to build this structure. The national park, located right on the equator, is famous for its spectacular waterfalls surrounded by mountains and dense forests. You can get there on foot or by airplane.

The Crystal Mountains, which are closely guarded by the authorities, are home to the rare leopard. These animals feel excellent here.

Along the coastline stretches the picturesque Mayumba Park, 60 km long and almost 15 km wide. This place is a unique corner of wildlife.

The waters off the coast are home to sharks, dolphins and whales. Sea excursions are organized within the park, during which you can get a closer look at the ocean inhabitants that can be seen in Gabon.